t Dover for
France. Next morning, accordingly, they rode away from Blythburgh Manor
and passed through Dunwich with much pomp, where the citizens of that
town, who were friends of the de Cressis, stared at them with no kind
eyes. Indeed, one of these as they crossed the market-place called to
them to be careful not to meet Hugh de Cressi and Grey Dick upon their
journey, lest there should be more midnight burials and men-at-arms
turned into foot-soldiers, whereat all about him laughed rudely.

But Acour did not laugh. He ground his teeth and said into the ear of
Nicholas:

"Register this vow for me, priest, that in payment for that jest I'll
sack and burn Dunwich when our army comes, and give its men and children
to the sword and its women to the soldiers."

"It shall be done, lord," answered the chaplain, "and should your heart
soften at the appointed time I'll put you in memory of this solemn
oath."

At the great house of the Mayor of Dunwich Sir Edmund drew rein and
demanded to see him. Presently this Mayor, a timid, uncertain-looking
man, came in his robes of office and asked anxiously what might be the
cause of this message and why an armed band halted at his gate.

"For no ill purpose, sir," answered Acour, "though little of justice
have I found at your hands, who, therefore, must seek it at the Court of
my liege lord, King Edward. All I ask of you is that you will cause this
letter to be delivered safely to the lady Eve Clavering, who lies in
sanctuary at the Preceptory of St. Mary and St. John. It is one of
farewell, since it seems that this lady who, by her own will and her
father's, was my affianced, wishes to break troth, and I am not a man
who needs an unwilling bride. I'd deliver it myself only that old knave,
half priest and half knight, but neither good----"

"You'd best speak no ill of Sir Andrew Arnold here," said a voice in the
crowd.

"Only the master of the Preceptory," went on Acour, changing his tone
somewhat, "might take fright and think I wished to violate his sanctuary
if I came there with thirty spears at my back."

"And no fool either," said the voice, "seeing that they are French
spears and his is an English sanctuary."

"Therefore," continued Acour, "I pray you, deliver the letter. Perchance
when we meet again, Master Mayor," he added with a venomous glance of
his dark eyes, "you will have some boon to ask of me, and be sure I'll
grant it--if I can."

Then without waiting for an